Rotatable hot metal discharging vessel car

ABSTRACT

A hot metal carrier apparatus in the nature of a horizontally elongated symmetrical vessel body or container having a metal shell wall and a refractory lining wall is provided with an open mouth portion for receiving and pouring molten metal and, if desired, for applying melting and refining heat to a metal charge therein through the agency of an oxygen lance. The vessel body is constructed to receive and carry a large tonnage of molten metal along a plant floor or the like on a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart wheeled truck assemblies. The vessel body is mounted for rotating movement on the truck assemblies by carriage, swing frame and roller means, in order that its open mouth portion may be moved between vertical and horizontal positions. Drive rollers of each assembly engage an associated rim flange assembly of a spaced pair about the vessel body to support it in a balanced relation and to enable its effective and safe rotation.

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SHEET 1 8f 5 INVINI()I\ /ra W Lak/'n f www QN- m EL oN Q. E 3 .Sm mw ww El m. mw HJ ww m o I lHl MH ,lh W ,M 6X2 m O l I 1MH I t IH| uw L m om w mT v E E v Q. .m m III Il ,.I lNII |V| IIV, l H Hilf .wclnwmwb am. r ||\:H l IMU u 1 DE ya, om 75M H/` /J TTURNEYS PATENTEU lunas I9?! SHEET E UF 5 INV/"NH )IL /ra W Lak/n H/S` A TT ORNE YS PATENEU .lunas |971 SHEET 3 UF 5 HIS ATTORNEYS ROTATABLE IIIOT METAL DISCHARGING VESSEL CAR The invention relates to an improved hot metal vessel or furnace carrier apparatus which has a relatively large tonnage capacity and whichmay be used for melting and refining metal as well as for carrying it in a molten condition from one operating station to another.

Although horizontally positioned movable furnaces have heretofore been provided, they have disadvantageous features which have limited their use. In the so-called torpedo type, the furnace vessel is supported at each of its tapered ends by a cup-shaped holder that has an end-bearing for the wheeled trucks. One holder is driven by gear and pinion means. Such a mounting requires especially tapered or reduced diameter ends in the body of the vessel and a longitudinal compressing force on opposite ends of the vessel. The mass or weight of the torpedo type of vessel and of a charge is, in effect, cantilevered between two end bearings. Thus, the vessel tends to centrally sag, particularly under the intense heat to which it is subjected; its operating life is shortened, and there is an ever present threat of a downward drop of the vessel and the spilling of its molten slag or metal content to Aendanger the lives the workmen. v

A second type of horizontally positioned removable furnace also makes use of an unsymmetrical vessel or container body and endeavors to drive or turn the vessel by a ring gear mounted and driven from one reduced end portion of the t body. Pairs of rings are used for supporting the vessel on fixed rollers, with the ring gear about the vessel body at the drive end of the apparatus being positioned between the pair of rings thereat.

Both of the above types of mixer or torpedo hot metal car apparatus retain the same basic ladle shape or configuration of an enlarged central portion and reduced end portions, with the rotation being effected by driving a bull gear mounted at one end portion. Cars of this type have been built in capacities up to about 300 tons. However, due to space limitations, particularly at blast furnaces, the use of larger cars is limited to a few of the newer plants where the cast houses are especially designed to accommodate them. The average plant can handle cars no longer than about 50 to 54 feet in length, about l l to I3 feet in height and about l0 to l 1% feet in width. A conven tional car of about 200 to 250 tons can be usedin such a space. However, due to the continued improvement in blast furnace practice resulting in higher rates of production, larger hot metal carrier apparatus is being required and todays con ventional apparatus has about reached its limit without going into a costly redesigning of cast houses. The need has been for an increased capacity of vessel within given dimensions, without requiring changes in cast houses, reladling pits, tunnels or other facilities.

There has heretofore been no furnace vessel body for such a type of utilization that is of a shape that is most efficient for the molten metal and that enables a fully balanced distribution of the weight of the mass or load throughout its extent or elongate length. There has thus been a need for an improved ap paratus including supporting-operating or rotation actuating mechanism therefor, and for apparatus which will not require a lengthening of the construction to provide bearing and drive supports for the vessel on wheeled trucks.

It has thus been an object of the invention to solve the problem presented in this connection and provide an improved hot metal carrier apparatus;

Another object has been to discover important factors in providing an improved apparatus and to utilize them in such a manner as to provide a foolproof operating and support structure and to, at the same time, increase the effective metal carrying capacity of the container vessel;

Another object has been to devise a new and improved hot metal carrying apparatus that will provide a balanced support and, at the same time, assure a maximum utilization of end spacing in the vessel body, all in such a manner as to provide an increased capacity with a lessened endwise extent of the apparatus;

A further object has been to devise a new and improved approach to supporting and rotating a longitudinally extending vessel body;

A further object ofthe invention has been to provide means for rotating a hot metal vessel body which has and will increase its frictional driving engagement as the body is rotated;

A still further object of the invention has been to provide an improved carrier apparatus which will provide a safe utilization and will also provide a'n increased operating life ofits vessel body;

These and other objects of the invention will appear to those skilled in the art from the illustrated embodiment and the claims.

In the drawings, FIG. l is a top plan view ofa hot metal furnace carrier apparatus illustrating the invention; in this figure, one end portion of the vessel body of the apparatus has been broken away to illustrate its construction.

FIG. 2 is a side view in elevation on the same scale as and of the apparatus of FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side section in elevation taken longitu dinally of one end portion of the apparatus along line III-III of FIG. 1; it also illustrates the construction of a similar opposite end portion of the apparatus.

FIG. 4 is an end section in elevation on the scale of FIG. 3 and taken along the line IVIV of FIG. l.

FIG. 5 is an end section in elevation on the same scale as FIG. 4 and taken along the same line as FIG. 4; FIG. 4 shows the vessel body of the apparatus in a normal position in which its open mouth portion faces substantially vertically upwardly and FIG. 5 shows the body after it has been rotated or turned clockwise about to a position at which its open mouth portion is substantially horizontal for the purpose of pouring molten metal therefrom.

FIG. 6 is a transverse or end section in elevation through the mouth portion of the vessel body, taken along the line VI-Vl of FIG. 1, and on an intermediate scale between FIGS. 1 and 4.

FIG. 7 is an isometric fragment in elevation and partial section on the scale of FIG. 6 and taken in the direction of a ring flange of the body to illustrate position latching means for the body.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view illustrating details of the con' struction of carriage, swing frame andl roller drive means carried by each of a pair of wheeled truck assemblies adjacent each end of the apparatus. This view is on an enlarged scale with respect to FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view taken below the vessel body, on a scale slightly smaller than FIGS. 4 and 5, and illustrating the construction and mounting of the means of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmental end view in elevation and partial section on the scale of and showing details of one motor drive and roller assembly or set of the group of assemblies or sets illustrated in FIG. 8.

And FIG. 11 is a fragmental side section in elevation showing the end construction of a modified embodiment of the vessel body ofthe apparatus and on the scale of FIG. 3.

In carrying out the invention and solving the problem presented, a hot metal carrier apparatus has been devised having a larger hot metal capacity for a given maximum length, width and height to thus reduce the number or length of arm runners at cast houses. It enables a quick and easy removal of a vessel body for relining and a release of the driving mechanism and rotating components for insertion of a spare vessel or ladle. Its body is fully symmetrical along its length which results in a lower cost of refractory lining and much easier and simplified relining operations. Patching of burned sections is simplified since there are no conical, sharply offset or reduced portions. Further, since the ends of the vessel are free, the addition of flues for other processing is permitted. Importantly, the construction is such that expansion and contraction of the vessel body does not adversely affect the driving thereof, since there is no direct meshing of gears involved from the standpoint of the furnace body or its direct support. On the other hand, a foolproof, serviceable, frictional drive is provided that compensates automatically by means of swing frames and spaced roller mountings for temperature-induced variations in the contour of the metal shell wall representing the vessel body, Also, means is provided for assuring increased frictional force of driving engagement in the direction of major torque development during the turning or rotation of the vessel in its use.

The present construction eliminates the need for costly and wide tolerance drive gearing and, at the same time, provides an efficient drive by means of rollers and rim flanges, and avoids damage or freezing under temperature variations of the body of the vessel. At the same time, it enables the use of a fully symmetrical type of vessel body that has a substantially uniform diameter of radius along its full extent to facilitate heating, melting and refining of the material therein and to assure an enlarged tonnage capacity within spacing limitations that has heretofore been unattainable. As distinguished from a torpedo type of apparatus, the apparatus of the present invention avoids endwise compression-applied driving force and applies circumferential driving force that is flexible from the standpoint of the vessel body and that is applied by a frictional engagement along a circular or curvilinear path about the vessel and at longitudinally spaced-apart and balanced positions along the vessel body at points equidistantly spaced from end portions thereof and from the center of the longitudinal extent thereof.

Referring particularly to FIGS. l, 2 and 3 of the drawings, a hot metal carrier apparatus l is shown having an elongated horizontally extending vessel or container body ll within which metal may be introduced, refined and carried from one operating station to another, and from which molten metal may be poured. The container or vessel body ll is shown defined by an outer metal shell wall l2 of substantially cylindrical shape and section that is closed-off at its ends by rounded or outwardly convey front and back closure end walls 12a and 12b. The hollow inside of the metal wall l2, including its ends walls 12a and 12b, are lined with a protective refractory lining 13 of the same general shape and configuration. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, an intermediate or central portion of the vessel body l1 has a semicircular bottom-positioned refractory portion I4 of greater thickness than the main portion 13. This, in effect, reinforces the lining at the location where metal charges, including molten metal, are introduced into the chamber of the body through a normally vertically upwardly extending open mouth portion l5.

Although the metal shell wall l2 and its end portions 12a and 12b are shown in FIG. 3 of unitary construction, it will be apparent that split-off end portions may be provided (as shown in FIG. l1). Each end portion has a flange cooperating with an associated end flange of the main body l2; the cooperating flanges may be securely bolted together, as illustrated. The purpose is to facilitate replacement or repair of the refractory lining. As shown particularly in FIGS. I, 2 and 3, a reinforcing, encircling metal collar 16 is provided about the open mouth portion l which may, as shown in FIG. l, be of transversely elongated shape to facilitate the introduction of metal into the vessel ll and the pouring of metal therefrom when the vessel is tilted at substantially right angles or to a position at which its mouth portion extends substantially horizontally.

In supporting and providing for an efficient rotating or turning movement of the vessel body ll, a pair of substantially circular or annular metal ring banding flange members or riding rings 17 and 17 are secured on and about the metal shell wall l2 at longitudinally spaced locations with respect to each other adjacent opposite ends of the vessel, but in a spaced relation from such ends. Each banding member 17 and 17' has an intennediately disposed, substantially circular, outwardly offset, drive rim flange 17a or 17a' secured on and thereabout. It will be noted that ring assemblies represented by the band ing members 17 and 17' and their respective rim flanges I7a and 17a' are located in a balanced relation along the vessel body Il. Each ring assembly has a substantially equal spacing from the standpoint of the distance of each from the respective adjacent end wall 12a or 12b and the distance of each from a centerline through the open mouth portion l5 of the vessel body.

As shown particularly in FIGS. 4 and 5, each assembly 17, 17a and 17', 17a' is secured in a somewhat eccentric relation about the metal wall l2 by means of metal spacer pieces or blocks. The arrangement of the spacer pieces 18 is such that the assemblies 17, 17a and 17', 17a' have a driven frictional engagement with flanged driving and supporting rollers or spools 43 that increases in a wedging fashion when, for example, the vessel 1l is turned or rotated 90 from the position represented in FIG. 4 (which corresponds to the position shown in FIGS. l and 2) to a pouring position, such as represented in FIG. 5. Such wedging action will progressively increase during the movement which, in effect, proportions the gripping engagement between the driving means to an increase of torque that may be required due to a shifting of the hot metal load within the vessel. This, of course, is true whether or not the vessel is tilted either counterclockwise or clockwise to and from a pouring position. In addition to the holding action accomplished by flanged rollers or spools 43, means is provided and will be hereinafter explained for positively latching or locking thc container or vessel body 1I in its upper position and its lower, tilted position.

Again referring to FIGS. l, 2 and 3, the vessel ll is shown supported on sets or assemblies of wheeled trucks 20. Each truck assembly is made up of a pair of endwise spaced-apart adjacent trucks 20 whose flanged wheels 2l are adapted to ride along the rails of a trackway 9. Each truck 20 may be of somewhat conventional construction and may be directly motor driven if the apparatus l0 is to be self-operated or may not, if the apparatus is to be connected by an end coupling to an engine or tractor unit (not shown). However, each truck 20 has a centrally located inverted, V-shaped mount 22 whose upper turntable portion 23 is adapted to securely mount and carry a bearing surface part 29. A U-shaped bridge, spanning or bolster frame 25 is, as shown in FIG. 3, provided with a centrally downwardly offset, reinforced, central portion 26 and a pair of oppositely extending, reinforced ann portions 28 and 28'. A bottom member of each arm portion 28 and 28' has a longitudinally extending flat or planar mounting portion 26a that is adapted to rest upon an associated bearing plate 29 of an associated one of the wheeled trucks 20. A headed pin 30 is adapted to extend through the portion 26a, the bearing plate 29, and the portion 23 to removably pivotally mount or support each end portion of each arm 28 and 28' on an associated one of the trucks 20.

The central downwardly offset portion 26 of each bridge or Spanner frame 25 has an upper, centrally positioned and transversely extending cradle mounting bearing plate or part 27. A transversely or cross-extending cradle or carriage frame 35 (see also FIG. 8) has a bottom swivel base mount plate or part 38 cooperating with the mounting bearing plate 27 for pivotally mounting the carriage 35 on the bearing plate 27 and thus, between each pair of trucks 20. The part 38 has a circular under shape and a rectangular upper shape, and the plate 27 has a complementary circular upper shape. A pin 67 is adapted to extend through the base mount or part 38, the bearing plate or part 27, and the bridging or straddle frame 25 and may have an upper head or, as shown, a threaded-on nut 67a.

Referring particularly to FIG. 8, the cradle or carriage frame 35 has a pair of spaced-apart upright sidewall members 36 that provide its transverse extension, and a pair of spacedapart upright end wall members 37 which are secured both to the bottom plate 38 and to the side members 36 to form a reinforced upright boxlike construction. The side members 36 of the boxlike carriage or cradle frame 35 have offset or cutout end portions 39 to receive swing frame and drive units 40 in a balanced end-mounted relation to the carriage. Side thrust bearing plates of segmental shape 36a are removably secured centrally on the outside of each of the side members 36.

Each swing frame and drive unit 40 is shown as having a pair of opposed and spaced-apart upright sidewall members 41 of substantially triangular shape that rotatably journal or carry actuating shafts 42 on each of which a drive roller or thimble 43 is secured. As shown, the shafts 42 provide an endwisebalanced mounting for a pair of the drive rollers 43. As shown particularly in FIG. l0, one end of each drive shaft 42 has a reduced, outwardly extending portion 42a on which a gear reduction unit 5l is mounted and which, in turn, carries a reversible electric drive motor 50. A twopart weldment housing 53 extends about and encloses the extending portion of the shaft 42. The housing 53 has one flanged part 53a that is secured to extend from one side member 4l and has a second flanged part 53b that is secured to extend from the housing of the speed reduction unit 5l. Bolt and nut assemblies 54 extend through the flanges of the two parts of the housing 53 to removably secure them together and provide a support for the speed reduction unit 5l in addition tothe support provided by its mounting on the extending portion 42a of the shaft 42.

As shown particularly in FIGS. 8 and l0, each drive roller 43 has a complementary frictional drive engagement or fit with respect to an associated flange assembly 17, 17a and 17', 17a' of the vessel 11, such that its inwardly offset cylindrical body portion 43a is adapted to ride on and frictionally engage the associated rim flange 17a or 17a', and its pair of spacedapart side rim portions 43b are adapted to ride along opposite side edges of an associated rim flange 17a or 17a and frictionally engage on an associated banding member 17 or 17. Each swing frame 40 is swingably or pivotally mounted on the cradle or carriage frame 35 by a pivot or swing pin shaft 44 that extends across and is inset within and rigidly secured to the under side of the pair of sidewall members 4l. A splitsleeve bearing collar 45 is secured in a concave mounting on and adjacent each end of the cradle 35 for pivotally or swingably receiving an associated one of the swing shafts 44.

As a result of the above-described construction and mounting of the drive and support means for the vessel body, it will be apparent the actuating or drive means 50, 5l for rotating the body is carried by the shafts 42 of a pair of circumw ferentially spaced apart associated swing frames 40. Separate actuating means 50, Sl is shown provided for each drive shaft 42. The swing mounting of each frame and drive unit 40 and the spaced location of its pair of rollers 43 is such that there is considerable flexibility of engagement with the banding and `rim flange assemblies ll7, 17a and 17', 17a to effect a rotation or driving of the vessel body ll. Further, simplicity is involved from the standpoint that the drive means 50, 5l is carried by the swing frame 40 and moves with it. Compensation in the driving mechanism is thus not required as would be the situation if the driving or motor means had a fixed mounting and a drive connection through suitable couplings, etc.

The locking or latching means for the turn positions of the vessel body llll is illustrated particularly in FIGS. l, 2, 7, 8 and 9. It comprises a latch operating shaft 60 which is rotatably positioned by mounting ears or lugs 61 and 62 to extend along an outer side of one of the side members 36 of each cradle or carriage 35. A locking lug or key 63 is secured on the shaft 60 between an adjacent spaced-apart pair of mounting lugs 62 and is operated to move into and out of a locking slot portion 64a defined by a pair of latching segments 64 secured to project from an associated banding flange member 17 or 17 adjacent one ofits edges. A set or pair of the lugs 64 is preferably provided at different spaced 90 locations about each banding member 17 or 17', in order that positive position-latching or locking can be attained independently of the position holding that may be effected by the drive and support rollers 43 and their driving mechanism. A manual lever or handle 65 is shown secured on the outer end of the latch operating shaft 60, adjacent the outer mounting lug 6l. lf desired, a position hold catch or position rest 66 may be mounted on each cradle frame 35 to hold the handle 65 in any given desired manually moved position. The handle 65 is shown as a flat bar that is sprung into and out of position behind the catch 66.

Again referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, partible gear housing is shown positioned about each flange assembly 17, 17a, and I7', 17a' and serves to keep out dirt and debris. Upper housing 75 cooperates with lower housing 76 which extends about the swing frames 40 and their roller assemblies. Cooperating flanges 75a and 76a of the respective housings are removably secured together by suitable bolt assemblies 77.

As shown in FlGS. l to 3 and 6, a shield 19 is mounted on and projects upwardly from each inner truck 20 to protect the trucks and other adjacent parts from hot metal, etc. being poured, and to guide the flow of hot material from the mouth l5.

To facilitate maintenance and repair of the apparatus, lift eyelets 78 are shown provided on each housing 7S. Also the banding flanges 17 and 17' may have suitable lifting ears or lugs 79, in order that the vessel or container 1l may be lifted by overhead crane or hoist means off the trucks 20. Conventional couplings 80 are provided on the end trucks 20, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in order that the apparatus may be coupled to similar or other types of apparatus as well as to a prime mover in connection with its utilization in a steelmaking plant and the like.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described to illustrate its principles and operation, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, additions and subtractions may be effected with reference to the disclosed apparatus without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims. Y

lclaim:

l. ln a hot metal carrier apparatus having an elongated horizontally extending substantially symmetrical vessel body defined by an outer metal shell wall and an inner refractory lining and having a metal introducing and pouring mouth portion that is open through the metal shell wall and the refractory lining and that normally extends vertically upwardly, a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart substantially circular supporting and driving rings secured on and about the shell wall adjacent to and spaced inwardly from opposite ends of the body, a group of wheeled truck assemblies having trucks adjacent opposite ends of the body and providing undersupports therefor moving it along a plant floor, carriage means for supporting the body on each of said truck assemblies, drive shaft means mounted on said carriage means, roller means mounted on said carriage means and being in body-supporting and frictional driving engagement with an associated one of said rings, said roller means having a driven connection with said drive shaft means for rotating said rings to directly turn the body about a longitudinal axis between positions at which the open mouth portion thereof extends substantially vertically and horizontally, and actuating motor means on said carriage means connected to said drive shaft means.

2. ln a hot metal carrier apparatus as defined in claim l, said actuating motor means comprising motor means mounted on each said carriage and having a driving gear connected to an associated said drive shaft means, and said rollers being mounted on an associated said drive shaft means.

3. ln a hot metal carrier apparatus as defined in claim l, said drive shaft means comprising drive shafts on which each of said roller means is mounted, and said actuating motor means being mounted on and carried by said drive shafts.

4. ln a hot metal carrier as defined in claim l, said roller means of each of said carriages comprising transversely spaced-apart flanged rollers frictionally engaging an associated one of said circular rings.

5. In a hot metal carrier apparatus as defined in claim 1, means pivotally mounting each of said carriage means on its associated wheeled truck assembly, each of said carriage means extending transversely of the body, a pair of swing frames pivotally mounted on each of said carriage means adjacent opposite transverse ends thereof, and said roller means comprising a pair of rollers operatively mounted in a balanced relation on each of said swing frames and in driving engagement with the associated ring.

, bridging frames.l

6. ln a hot metal furnace carrier apparatus as defined in claim 5, said drive shaft means having a drive shaft for each roller of said pair, and said actuating motor means comprising electric motor means operatively carried by said swing frames and said drive shafts for actuating said roller means.

7. ln a hot metal furnace carrier apparatus as defined in claim 5, the rollers of each of said pairs being flanged rollers, each of said circular rings comprising an inner banding flange and an outer centrally disposed rim flange, a central body portion of each of said rollers being adapted to engage an as sociated rim flange, and flanges of cach of said rollers being adapted to engage an associated banding flange adjacent side edges ofthe associated rim flange.

8. ln a hot metal carrier apparatus as defined in claim l, said rings having a varying radius with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the vessel body to provide a frictional-engagement with associated said roller means that increases with one direction of rotation of the body and that decreases with an opposite direction of rotation thereof.

9. ln a hot metal carrier apparatus as defined in claim l, swing frames pivotally mounted on cach of said carriage means, said drive shaft means having drive shafts operatively carried by said swing frames, said roller means comprising rollers operatively mounted on said drive shafts, and said actual` ing means comprising electric motor and gear reduction units operatively mounted on said drive shafts for actuating said rollers to rotate the body.

l0. In a hot metal carrier apparatus as defined in claim l, each group of truck assemblies having an endwise spacedapart pair of wheeled trucks, a bridging frame connected at its opposite ends in a spanning relation between the trucks of each pair of said group of assemblies, and each said carriage means having a support carriage centrally mounted on an associated one of said bridging frames.

1l. In a hot metal carrier apparatus as defined in claim l0,

substantially horizontally positioned bearing means pivotally mounting each of said carriages on an associated one of said .12. ln a hot metal carrier apparatus as defined in claim ll, each of said carriages extending transversely of the associated one of said bridging frames on which it is mounted, a pair of swing frames mounted on each of said carriages in a balanced relation adjacent opposite transverse ends thereof, and said roller means being operatively mounted in and carried by said swing frames. l

13. ln a hot metal carrier apparatus as defined in claim l2, each of said swing frames having a cross-extending pivot and bearing means swingably mounting it on the associated one of said carriages.

14. lp a hot metal carrier apparatus as defined in claim l, latching means operatively carried by at least one of said can" riage means and latching slot means carried by the shell wall and adapted to be latch-engaged by said latching means for locking the body in positions to which it is rotated.

15. ln a hot metal carrier apparatus as defined in claim 1, the shell and refractory walls defining a substantially cylindrical container enclosure of uniform diameter fully along its length, each of said rings comprising a rim flange assembly extending about the shell wall of the body in a longitudinally spaced relation from an adjacent end portion thereof that substantially corresponds to its longitudinally spaced relation with respect to the open mouth portion.

16. ln a hot metal carrier apparatus as defined in claim l, a pair of swing frames carried on each of said carriage means in a circumfercntially spaced under position with respect to thc body, said roller means comprising a cooperating pair of flanged rollers operatively mounted in a balanced relation in each of said swing frames and in operative driving engagement with an associated one of said circular rings, and spacer means positioned between each of said rings and the metal shell wall adapted to mount each of said rings in an eccentric relation with respect to a longitudinal axis of the body and in such a manner as to progressively increase the force of engagement between each ol' said rings and the associated roller means when the body is turned to move the open mouth portion thereof from a vertically upright position to a horizontal pouring position j 17. ln a hot metal carrier apparatus as defined in claim l, a pair of swing frames for each of said carriage means, pivot means positioned centrally of each of said swing frames and swingably mounting it on an associated one of said carriage means, and said roller means for each said carriage means comprising a pair of rollers operatively carried by each of said swing frames in a balanced relation with respect to said pivot means.

18. ln a hot metal carrier apparatus as defined in claim 17, said drive shaft means having individual drive shafts mounting each roller of each said pair, and said actuating motor means comprising an individual motor drive unit for each of said drive shafts.

19. ln a hot metal furnace and carrier apparatus having an elongated vessel body defined by an outer metal shell wall and an inner refractory wall and having a mouth portion open through the shell wall and the refractory walls that normally extends vertically upwardly, a pair of endwise spaced-apart wheeled trucksadjacent cach longitudinal end of the vessel body, a bridging member operatively connecting the spacedapart trucks of each pair and having a centrally downwardly offset portion, a cross-extending carriage mounted on said downwardly offset portion, a pair of swing frames mounted on each said carriage adjacent opposite transverse ends thereof, a set of flanged rollers operatively carried by each of said swing frames, a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart substantially circular rim flange assemblies about the shell wall of the container body, means securing each of said rim flange assemblies on and about the sh'ell wall, said flanged rollers of each of said swing frames being in functional driving engagement with an associated one of said rim flange assemblies and supporting said body thereon, motor means carried by each of said swing frames and having a driving connection with said flanged rol- .lers of the associated swing frame for rotating the vessel body to move its open mouth portion between substantially vertical and horizontal positions, and means cooperating with the shell wall and each of said rim flange assemblies for increasing the radius of each assembly from the top portion of the body downwardly along a side portion thereof for applying an increased frictional-engagement of associated sets of flanged rollers therewith when the body is being rotated by said flanged rollers.

ogf UNITED STATES PA'IENT oFFIcFI CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent NO- 3 .589.303 DatedglunLZllSllwm.-

Inventor(s) Ira W. Lakin It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 36, change nconvey" to convex.

Column 2+, line '73 after "relation" change nton to on.

Column 8, line p7 (claim 1 9) change ufunctional to Signed and sealed this 1 8th day of January 1 972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETGHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSGHALK Acting Commissioner' of Patents Attest-.ing Officer 

1. In a hot metal carrier apparatus having an elongated horizontally extending substantially symmetrical vessel body defined by an outer metal shell wall and an inner refractory lining and having a metal introducing and pouring mouth portion that is open through the metal shell wall and the refractory lining and that normally extends vertically upwardly, a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart substantially circular supporting and driving rings secured on and about the shell wall adjacent to and spaced inwardly from opposite ends of the body, a group of wheeled truck assemblies having trucks adjacent opposite ends of the body and providing undersupports therefor moving it along a plant floor, carriage means for supporting the body on each of said truck assemblies, drive shaft means mounted on said carriage means, roller means mounted on said carriage means and being in body-supporting and frictional driving engagement with an associated one of said rings, said roller means having a driven connection with said drive shaft means for rotating said rings to directly turn the body about a longitudinal axis between positions at which the open mouth portion thereof extends substantially vertically and horizontally, and actuating motor means on said carriage means connected to said drive shaft means.
 2. In a hot metal carrier apparatus as defined in claim 1, said actuating motor means comprising motor means mounted on each said carriage and having a driving gear connected to an associated said drive shaft means, and said rollers being mounted on an associated said drive shaft means.
 3. In a hot metal carrier apparatus as defined in claim 1, said drive shaft means comprising drive shafts on which each of said roller means is mounted, and said actuating motor means being mounted on and carried by said drive shafts.
 4. In a hot metal carrier as defined in claim 1, said roller means of each of said carriages comprising transversely spaced-apart flanged rollers frictionally engaging an associated one of said circular rings.
 5. In a hot metal carrier apparatus as defined in claim 1, means pivotally mounting each of said carriage means on its associated wheeled truck assembly, each of said carriage means extending transversely of the body, a pair of swing frames pivotally mounted on each of said carriage means adjacent opposite transverse ends thereof, and said roller means comprising a pair of rollers operatively mounted in a balanced relation on each of said swing frames and in driving engagement with the associated ring.
 6. In a hot metal furnace carrier apparatus as defined in claim 5, said drive shaft means having a drive shaft for each roller of said pair, and said actuating motor means comprising electric motor means operatively carried by said swing frames and said drive shafts for actuating said roller means.
 7. In a hot metal furnace carrier apparatus as defined in claim 5, the rollers of each of said pairs being flanged rollers, each of said circular rings comprising an inner banding flange and an outer centrally disposed rim flange, a central body portion of each of said rollers being adapted to engage an associated rim flange, and flanges of each of said rollers being adapted to engage an associated banding flange adjacent side edges of the associated rim flange.
 8. In a hot metal carrier apparatus as defined in claim 1, said rings having a varying radius with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the vessel body to provide a frictional-engagement with associated said roller means that increases with one direction of rotation of the body and that decreases with an opposite direction of rotation thereof.
 9. In a hot metal carrier apparatus as defined in claim 1, swing frames pivotally mounted on each of said carriage means, said drive shaft means having drive shafts operatively carried by said swing frames, said roller means comprising rollers operatively mounted on said drive shafts, and said actuating means comprising electric motor and gear reduction units operatively mounted on said drive shafts for actuating said rollers to rotate the body.
 10. In a hot metal carrier apparatus as defined in claim 1, each group of truck assemblies having an endwise spaced-apart pair of wheeled trucks, a bridging frame connected at its opposite ends in a spanning relation between the trucks of each pair of said group of assemblies, and each said carriage means having a support carriage centrally mounted on an associated one of said bridging frames.
 11. In a hot metal carrier apparatus as defined in claim 10, substantially horizontally positioned bearing means pivotally mounting each of said carriages on an associated one of said bridging frames.
 12. In a hot metal carrier apparatus as defined in claim 11, each of said carriages extending transversely of the associated one of said bridging frames on which it is mounted, a pair of swing frames mounted on each of said carriages in a balanced relation adjacent opposite transverse ends thereof, and said roller means being operatively mounted in and carried by said swing frames.
 13. In a hot metal carrier apparatus as defined in claim 12, each of said swing frames having a cross-extending pivot and bearing means swingably mounting it on the associated one of said carriages.
 14. In a hot metal carrier apparatus as defined in claim 1, latching means operatively carried by at least one of said carriage means and latching slot means carried by the shell wall and adapted to be latch-engaged by said latching means for locking the body in positions to which it is rotated.
 15. In a hot metal carrier apparatus as defined in claim 1, the shell and refractory walls defining a substantially cylindrical container enclosure of uniform diameter fully along its length, each of said rings comprising a rim flange assembly extending about the shell wall of the body in a longitudinally spaced relation from an adjacent end portion thereof that substantially corresponds to its longitudinally spaced relation with respect to the open mouth portion.
 16. In a hot metal carrier apparatus as defined in claim 1, a pair of swing frames carried on each of said carriage means in a circumferentially spaced under position with respect to the body, said roller means comprising a cooperating pair of flanged rollers operatively mounted in a balanced relation in each of said swing frames and in operative driving engagement with an associated one of said circular rings, and spacer means positioned between each of said rings and the metal shell wall adapted to mount each of said rings in an eccentric relation with respect to a longitudinal axis of the body and in such a manner as to progressively increase the force of engagement between each of said rings and the associated roller means when the body is turned to move the open mouth portion thereof from a veRtically upright position to a horizontal pouring position.
 17. In a hot metal carrier apparatus as defined in claim 1, a pair of swing frames for each of said carriage means, pivot means positioned centrally of each of said swing frames and swingably mounting it on an associated one of said carriage means, and said roller means for each said carriage means comprising a pair of rollers operatively carried by each of said swing frames in a balanced relation with respect to said pivot means.
 18. In a hot metal carrier apparatus as defined in claim 17, said drive shaft means having individual drive shafts mounting each roller of each said pair, and said actuating motor means comprising an individual motor drive unit for each of said drive shafts.
 19. In a hot metal furnace and carrier apparatus having an elongated vessel body defined by an outer metal shell wall and an inner refractory wall and having a mouth portion open through the shell wall and the refractory walls that normally extends vertically upwardly, a pair of endwise spaced-apart wheeled trucks adjacent each longitudinal end of the vessel body, a bridging member operatively connecting the spaced-apart trucks of each pair and having a centrally downwardly offset portion, a cross-extending carriage mounted on said downwardly offset portion, a pair of swing frames mounted on each said carriage adjacent opposite transverse ends thereof, a set of flanged rollers operatively carried by each of said swing frames, a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart substantially circular rim flange assemblies about the shell wall of the container body, means securing each of said rim flange assemblies on and about the shell wall, said flanged rollers of each of said swing frames being in functional driving engagement with an associated one of said rim flange assemblies and supporting said body thereon, motor means carried by each of said swing frames and having a driving connection with said flanged rollers of the associated swing frame for rotating the vessel body to move its open mouth portion between substantially vertical and horizontal positions, and means cooperating with the shell wall and each of said rim flange assemblies for increasing the radius of each assembly from the top portion of the body downwardly along a side portion thereof for applying an increased frictional-engagement of associated sets of flanged rollers therewith when the body is being rotated by said flanged rollers. 